Mr. and Mrs.

(Male and Female Downy Woodpeckers)

Everything about the Downy says woodpecker except its tiny size. Ubiquitous across North America, it is often seen in mixed flocks along with other tiny denizens such as Chickadees, Nuthatches, and Titmice. It is alert. If you find it, it has already found you and may be sitting erect or hanging from a branch with its beady little eyes staring right at you.

The Downy is another of my favorite feathered friends. I feel cheated if I don’t see one or two on any given bird walk. The male has the red patch on its head, while that same patch is white on the female. They are socially monogamous and will aggressively defend one another and their nest from predators.

Re-sensitize your ears to hear and recognize their subtle, soft peck. Don’t miss them.